amdram.co.uk

Group Details

• Type: Comedies, light and serious plays

Location

• Town: Ballinger Common (between Chesham and Great Missenden)
• County: Buckinghamshire
• Region: South East

Contact

• Email: marklawrance24 [at] gmail [dot] com Phone: 07764 334480
• Website:

Ballinger Players is a small community group consisting of approximately 15 members, of which about half are regular actors.

Ballinger is a hamlet in the Chilterns, midway between Chesham and Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire. Members of the group come mainly from the Chesham, Amersham, Wendover and High Wycombe area. Ballinger Players rehearse and perform in Ballinger War Memorial Hall and the group dates back to the Hall’s inception in the 1920′s.

The group stages either one or two productions a year. If you fancy a go at …

Acting
Directing
Stage Management
Sound & Lighting
Make-up
Props
Producing
Set-building

… or even just making the tea, having a new hobby and coming to our social events you would be made extremely welcome! No previous experience is necessary.

Over the years, our performances have included:

Seasons Greetings; The Enquiry; Sweeney Todd Shock ‘n’ Roll Show; Absent Friends; Play On; Confusions; Dangerous Corner; The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole; Key for Two; No Time for Fig Leaves; Steel Magnolias; Shirley Valentine; Blithe Spirit; Trial and Error, Murder in Play, A Kiss on the Bottom, Trivial Pursuits, Dead Ringer, Curtains, The Dresser, Spectre Over London, Natural Causes and The Odd Couple.

Our productions usually run for three nights. Part of the “Ballinger Experience” is that our seating is laid out around tables, rather than rows, and the audience is encouraged to bring their own refreshments.

This “supper format” could mean people bringing anything from a bag of crisps and a Coke to a three-course hamper complete with wine and candelabra, or a Chinese takeaway.

If you would like to come along and find out more about the “Ballinger Experience”, you would be most welcome. For further information, please email Mark Lawrance (marklawrance24 [at] gmail [dot] com) or phone him on 07764 334480

Details of Future Productions:

In 2012, we have two planned productions:

1) Our Summer Murder Mystery

On Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd June, we’ll be staging a Murder Mystery Night. A two act play written by our own Derek Yardley along with a quiz. With our audience making up teams of up to 8 people, they’ll have to compete against each other to guess “whodunnit”! Do you feel confident enough to solve the murder at Bollinger Manor? Did the Butler do it? To find out, come and join us. 

The Box Office opens on 1st May 2012 and can be contacted via (01494) 489833

2) Our Autumn Production

On Thursday 8th, Friday 9th and Saturday 10th November, we’ll be staging a production of “Present from the Past” by Richard Everett. This production has already been cast and rehearsals will start in the late Summer.

A brief synopsis of the play:

Frances, Howard and Rachel have always believed that their father, David, died in a boating accident when they were children … but he didn’t. When the three siblings gather to clear out the house of their recently deceased mother, several long-hidden secrets are revealed, but none of the skeletons to fall from their collective closets is more tangible or more shocking than David, who arrives with the news that the house is, in fact, now his.

The Box Office will open in early October and more details about this production will appear nearer the time.

For further information on any of these productions or the group in general, please contact Mark Lawrance.

Joining the Group:

Ballinger Players is always looking for new members and we are keen to expand our core group of actors.

Keeping in Contact:

If you’d like to join the “Friends of Ballinger” mailing list then please contact us. This way, you’ll be kept informed of forthcoming productions and other events. There’s no charge for this – we just need to know your name, address and an email address (if you have one).

Other Projects:

Ballinger Players is always keen to help local film and television companies by providing extras or actors for speaking parts. We will always do our best to assist with your production. In the past, we’ve been asked to take part in documentaries, feature films and television dramas which has included filming at Pinewood Film Studios assisting the students of the National Film and Television School. We have also provided extras for “Midsomer Murders”. We even have a group member who has acted alongside Kevin Costner !

Ballinger Players also supported the annual Scan Appeal Christmas Concert at Amersham Church.

If you’d like to contact Ballinger Players, please contact Mark Lawrance.